EISENHOWER, DWIGHT DAVID
Dwight David Eisenhower achieved prominence in military and political careers and was the
thirty-fourth president of the United States.
Eisenhower was born October 14, 1890, in
Denison, Texas. A graduate of West Point Mili-
tary Academy in 1915, he served during WORLD
WAR I as officer in charge of Camp Colt, which
was located at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and
which served as the center of training for the
U.S. Army Tank Division.
From 1922 to 1924, Eisenhower was assigned
to a post in the Panama Canal Zone. Five years
later, he served as an administrator in the Assis-
tant Secretary of War Office and acted in this
capacity until 1933. In 1935, he was stationed in
the Philippine Islands, and, for the next five
years, he displayed his exceptional military
expertise. As a result of his achievements, Eisen-
hower—promoted to general—became chief of
operations in Washington, D.C., in 1942.
Throughout the years of WORLD WAR II,
Eisenhower continued to demonstrate his mili-
tary proficiency. In 1942, he was in charge of the
battle operations in Europe. He subsequently
directed the U.S.maneuvers in North Africa and,
in 1943, commanded the Allied armies there.
Later that year, he supervised the victorious
attacks on Sicily and the mainland of Italy. As a
result of these successes, he was transferred to
England to serve as supreme commander of the
Allied Expeditionary Force. He was instrumental
in coordinating the ARMED SERVICES of the
Allies and in directing the use of land, sea, and
air battle units in the war maneuvers in Europe.
In 1944, Eisenhower was awarded the presti-
gious rank of five-star general. He was assigned
to Germany the following year, and, subse-
quently, became Army chief of staff.
Eisenhower resigned as chief of staff in 1948
and entered the education field, serving as pres-
ident of Columbia University. Two years later,
he returned to the military and established a
defense corps as part of the NORTH ATLANTIC
TREATY ORGANIZATION, which was composed
of countries determined to prevent Soviet
aggression.
In 1952, Eisenhower officially ended his
association with the military and began a bril-
liant political career. As a Republican, he cam-
paigned for the office of U.S. president against
Democrat ADLAI STEVENSON; he was victorious,
primarily because of his impressive military
achievements and his pledge to end the war in
Korea. As president, Eisenhower was instru-
mental in the achievement of peace in Korea in
1953. His main concern was the growing threat
of the spread of COMMUNISM, and he adopted a
policy—similar to that of predecessor Harry S.
Truman—to keep communism in check. As part
of this program, the United States formed
defense treaties with South Korea and Formosa,
82 EISENHOWER, DWIGHT DAVID
WEST’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN LAW, 2nd Edition
